Tumors: how is the new RNA therapy that reduces their growth

Reduce the growth of tumors via RNA molecules capable of controlling the genetic alterations of diseased cells and correcting its defects: this is the important result that emerged from one study funded in Italy by the AIRC Foundation for Cancer Research, Cariplo Foundation, MIUR, MEF and the Campania Region.

Research, which paves the way for a new therapeutic frontier within the so-called precision medicine, it involved Italian scholars of the National Research Council and of the University of Eastern Piedmont in collaboration with researchers from prestigious institutions Americans – including the Cancer Research Institute of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Harvard Medical School of Boston – and of theUniversity of Singapore.

Published on Nature Communicationsthe study intervenes in the process known as DNA methylationthe epigenetic mechanism that “silences” genes, preventing their activity, and which has been shown to have a direct correlation with the onset of cancer.

This process is in fact governed by protein specifications, the DNA methyltransferasewhose control may provide new therapeutic strategies to counteract methylation abnormalities in tumors. And that is exactly what they have managed to do researchers of the group, generating RNA molecules capable of effectively and selectively blocking the methylation process of DNA, and of thus rekindling erroneously silenced genes.

An important milestone

To understand the extent of these results, we must remember that until now it was possible intervene in the process of genetic alteration of cancer cells only through the use of drugs however, they present important side effects and high toxicity.

“Our technique, on the other hand, allows you to act in a targeted manneropening a new therapeutic frontier in the so-called precision medicine: in fact, it uses small RNA molecules (AptaDiR) which they act selectively by blocking a specific DNA methyltransferase and thus promoting a significant reduction in tumor growthexplains Vittorio de Franciscis (Cnr-Irgb), coordinator of the research group together with Annalisa Di Ruscio (BIDMC-HMS), Carla Lucia Esposito (Cnr-Ieos) and Marcin Kortylewski (COH).

The prospects

The results obtained from the study, the result of the integration of the different skills of the research groups involved, in fact pave the way for one new class of smart RNA therapieswhich are aimed at improve the therapies available today in the treatment of tumors and the quality of life of patients. But not only that, the hope is also what new intelligent therapies can be used to treat other diseases.

“This This targeted approach could also be extended to other pathologiesand mark a fundamental turning point in the treatment of incurable genetic conditions resulting from methylation abnormalities», concludes de Franciscis.

Above the stylized image curated by the scientific illustrator Laura Seclì: the AptaDiR (small RNA molecules capable of controlling the genetic alterations of diseased cells) are represented as golden baits of a hidden treasure, capable of stopping and preventing the siege of the crabs (metaphorically cancer cells) on the wonderful submerged city (metaphorically an expression of human life).

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